Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's treatment facility and scheduling a VA examination to assess his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability, allergic rhinitis, and residuals of a nasal septoplasty have been granted. However, he is not entitled to any additional compensation as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or other compensable symptoms in the knees.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for gastritis and chronic sinusitis with rhinitis have been denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO provided the Veteran with multiple opportunities to submit evidence, but he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for hypoglycemia, varicose veins, TMJ disability, and hearing loss. Service connection was granted for fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, and arthritis of multiple joints.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis, sciatica, and seasonal rhinitis were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The appeal for right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is causally related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, cataracts, hearing loss, post-surgical bilateral pseudoaphakia, cystoid macular edema of the left eye, arthritis, chronic bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis. The reasons were that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and bilateral pes planus have been granted service connection, with the latter receiving a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal disorder and allergic rhinitis. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disorder, including upper respiratory infection, sinusitis, and rhinitis. The Veteran's long history of respiratory symptoms during his military service is considered in determining the current condition.,Service connection was also granted for prostate cancer. The VA examiner opined that it was at least as likely as not related to prostatitis experienced by the Veteran during his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of nasal fracture.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis has not resulted in any impairment warranting a compensable evaluation for the entire period from October 17, 2005 to the present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 1, 1985 to January 30, 1989 for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for rhinitis and sinusitis was granted, but the service connection claim for a skin disorder due to an undiagnosed illness was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of in-service occurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury resulting in current disability.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for syncope, increased ratings for social anxiety/depression and hemorrhoids, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by syncopal episodes during the appeal period. For her psychiatric disabilities, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent or higher rating throughout the appeal period. Her hemorrhoids were rated appropriately based on their severity and stage. Lastly, her allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, back condition (to include arthritis), residuals of prostate cancer, and ulcerative colitis. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.